The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) sealed an engineering firm linked to the mother of probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar on Friday due to unpaid property tax amounting to nearly Rs 2 lakh, according to municipal officials. The firm, Thermoverita India Pvt Ltd, located in the Talawade area, was closed due to property tax dues from 2022 to 2024.
Tax Evasion and Enforcement Actions
PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh explained that the unpaid property tax for Thermoverita India Pvt Ltd totaled Rs 1.96 lakh for the last two years, with an additional Rs 81,000 for the current year, making the total due Rs 2.77 lakh. Initial steps to recover the dues included issuing notices and disconnecting the water supply. With no payments forthcoming, the property was subsequently sealed.
Puja Khedkar, the controversial IAS officer, had listed the firm’s location as her residential address while applying for a disability certificate at the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital. Her mother, Manorama Khedkar, is currently in custody over a 2023 land dispute case, where she allegedly threatened individuals with a gun.
Further Actions Against Puja Khedkar
In another blow, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) initiated actions against Puja Khedkar for fraudulent attempts in the civil services examination, including registering a police case, issuing a show-cause notice for cancellation of her 2022 candidature, and considering her debarment from future exams. During her recent training in Pune district collectorate, she was accused of misusing her position by demanding unauthorized perks and facilities.